Gates trust still part of vaccine project, says govt

New Delhi: The government's apex advisory body on immunisation - National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) - will cease to have any technical support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) from March onwards though the Foundation will remain a part of the vaccine programme. BMGF or Gates Foundation continued to be part of Centre's Universal Immunisation Programme and other schemes under the National Health Mission, a health ministry official said responding to reports that the foundation was no longer a part of vaccine programme.

"There is no financial link of NTAGI with BMGF or any other organisation as the body consists of independent experts," the official said. It added, "As far as technical support by ITSU is concerned, it is functioning till 28th February and the project will continue to support the immunisation program in techno-managerial capacity beyond this date. The contours of this support are being finalised with Public Health Foundation of India and BMGF," hesaid.

BMGF funded Immunisation Technical Support Unit (ITSU) was set up under PHFI to support health ministry for evidence based planning, programme operations, monitoring and evaluation, strategic communication, cold chain and vaccine logistics management and support for adverse event following immunization. The technical support, which was so far being facilitated by ITSU, to NTAGI will now be done by National Institute of Health & Family Welfare. "The transitioning of the NTAGI secretariat from ITSU to NIHFW was a planned activity and is part of the health system strengthening efforts."